"I want to see how far I can get": Sprints are no longer thrilling enough for Lorena Wiebes who shifts focus to Amstel
Cycling
Lorena Wiebes was one of the main protagonists of the 2025 season, winning breath-taking 25 road races - enough to land her at the top of the annual UCI ranking, second only to compatriot and former teammate Demi Vollering. The Dutchwoman also secured rainbow stripes on track and in gravel, certifying herself as the best (not only) sprinter in the women's peloton.
But looking ahead, there are still races the 26-year-old desires to win. Besides her obvious goal to one day become road world champion, Wiebes also strives to succeed on home roads. More specifically, the hilly Amstel Gold Race draws her attention as the biggest Dutch race on calendar.
"I want to take on that challenge, to see how far I can get there," Wiebes told WielerFlits. "Last year I had a really good day there too (she won the sprint for sixth place, ed.). It was a strange racing situation back then, but I feel like I'm growing in that race. Racing in the Netherlands is also extra motivating, of course."
Wiebes has very little competition as sprinter. That's why she looks to expand her dominance towards Classics. "I need that challenge. That's why I'm also choosing the challenges on the track and gravel. I want some variety."
Unfinished business
The Amstel Gold Race is "the big goal of the spring," Wiebes emphasizes. The Dutchwoman still has a score to settle at the race from 2024 when she arrived second in a sprint, defeated by Marianne Vos on the line.
"I'd say: for myself, I want athletic revenge. Compared to last year, I need to improve a few percent in terms of certain efforts. I think I'm on track there. We also do lactate tests during training camp, and that was fine. But then you also have to show it in the races," she concludes with view to the season ahead.
In 2024, Wiebes was centimeters from winning Amstel Gold Race
Ondrej ZhasilCycling Journalist
Ondřej Zhasil is a cycling journalist at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2023. He is based in Ostrava, the third-largest city in the Czech Republic, and covers professional cycling across the main UCI competitions, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España. A key focus of his work is startlist analysis and pre-race coverage, where he examines team selections, rider line-ups, and tactical scenarios ahead of major events.
Alongside WorldTour coverage, Ondřej has developed specific expertise in junior cycling and in racing across East Asia, including competitions in China and Japan. He also maintains a broad working knowledge of other disciplines and levels, including cyclocross, while continuing to expand his understanding of mountain bike racing.
Ondřej holds a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and Physics, which supports his analytical, data-driven approach to performance and race analysis. In his reporting, he regularly uses ProCyclingStats for results, statistics, and historical context. He places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available.
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